Americans are Flocking to the Edges of Metropolitan Areas
As the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the way people work, many are opting for a quieter, more suburban lifestyle. Exurbs, areas 40-60 miles from city centers, are becoming increasingly popular. These former sleepy rural towns are now booming cultural communities with growing populations and housing markets.
The trend has been particularly notable in the South, with cities like Anna, Texas, Fort Mill, South Carolina, and Lebanon, Tennessee, among the most popular exurb hotspots. Haines City, Florida, which is located between Tampa and Orlando, has seen a 30,000-person population surge, making it one of the fastest-growing areas in the country.
The shift to exurbs is driven by a desire for more space, affordability, and a slower pace of life. Many are seeking to escape the urban grind and enjoy suburban comforts. The trend has resulted in a significant migration, with cities on the outskirts of Phoenix, Arizona, and Nashville, Tennessee, experiencing higher rates of population growth than their city centers.
As the trend continues to grow, exurbs are outpacing city and suburb housing markets, with a 15% average growth in available properties over the past decade. The shift has also led to a more diverse population, with a surge in Latino residents in areas like Polk County, Florida.
While the migration comes with trade-offs, such as longer commutes and cultural adjustments, many residents are embracing the new lifestyle. Marisol Ortega, who commutes from Haines City to Orlando, says, “I love my job, but I love coming home to a more tranquil life.” Others, like Schuyler Crouch, joke that the next exurb will be Oklahoma.
The trend is also driven by millennials, the largest home-buying generation, who are seeking larger homes, outdoor space, safer communities, and better schools. The trend has significant implications for urban planners and developers, who must adapt to the changing landscape. As Doug Ressler, business intelligence manager at Yardi Matrix, notes, “In a landscape characterized by flexible, work setups in the post-pandemic search for more space, suburban, and exurban areas are growing faster than urban cores.”
